Vitamin D3 analogues

ABSTRACT

A vitamin D 3  analogue which includes a hydroxyalkyl substituent in the 1-position and a modified D-ring side chain is described. This novel compound is a potent anti-proliferative substance with activity comparable to that of calcitriol but with a vitamin D 3  receptor binding rating of approximately 10 -3  compared to that of calcitriol.

The invention described and claimed herein was made in part under a grant from the National Institutes of Health, NIH grant RO1 GM30052. The Government has certain rights in the invention.

The present application is a Continuation-In-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/070,913, filed Jun. 4, 1993, now allowed, which is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/849,716, filed Mar. 12, 1992, which issued as U.S. Pat. No. 5,274,142 on Dec. 28, 1993, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to novel biologically active vitamin D₃ analogues which include at least one hydroxyalkyl substituent in the 1-position. More specifically, the present invention relates to a compound YB which is a vitamin D₃ analogue which includes a hydroxyalkyl substituent in the 1-position and a modified D-ring side chain. Compound YB is a potent anti-proliferative vitamin D₃ analogue but has a very low (˜10⁻³ relative to calcitriol) binding affinity to the calf thymus vitamin D₃ receptor (VDR).

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Vitamin D₃ analogues have been recognized as having important biological activities. It is known, for example, that vitamin D₃ analogues can be used to control calcium and phosphate metabolism.

It is also known that such analogues are useful for inducing cell differentiation and for inhibiting undesired cell proliferation. For example, it is well recognized that during normal metabolism vitamin D₃ produces 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃ (calcitriol) which is a potent regulator of cell differentiation and proliferation as well as intestinal calcium and phosphorus absorption and bone calcium mobilization. Calcitriol is also known to affect the immune system and this compound, as well as a variety of synthetic vitamin D₃ derivatives have been used in practical, clinical chemotherapy of such diverse human illnesses as osteoporosis, cancer, immunodeficiency syndromes and skin disorders such as dermatitis and psoriasis. However, major research efforts are underway in an effort to prepare vitamin D₃ analogues as drugs in which calcitropic activity is effectively separated from cell growth regulation.

Calcitriol may be structurally represented as follows: ##STR1##

The upper and lower ring portions of calcitriol may be called, for ease of reference, the C/D-ring and A-ring, respectively.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

Numerous references can be cited as showing prior work with respect to vitamin D₃ analogues, calcitriol or the like. See, for example:

Vitamin D. Chemical, Biochemical and Clinical Update, Proceedings of the Sixth Workshop on Vitamin D, Merano, Italy, March 1985; Norman, A. W., Schaefer, K., Grigoleit, H. G., Herrath, D. V. Eds.; W. de Gruyter; New York, 1985; Brommage, R., DeLucca, H. F., Endocrine Rev., 1985, 6, 491; Dickson, I., Nature, 1987, 325, 18; Cancela, L., Theofon, G., Norman, A. W., in Hormones and Their Actions. Part I; Cooke, B. A., King, R. J. B., Van der Molen, H. J. Eds.; Elsevier, Holland, 1988; Tsoukas, D. C., Provvedini, D. M., Manolagas, S. C., Science, (Washington, D.C.) 1984, 224, 1438; Provvedini, D. M., Tsoukas, C. D., Deftoe, L. J., Manolagas, S. C., Science, (Washington, D.C.) 1983, 221, 1181; Vitamin D. Chemical Biochemical, and Clinical Endocrinology of Calcium Metabolism, Proceedings of the Fifth Workshop on Vitamin D, Williamsburg, Va., February 1982, Norman, A. W., Schaefer, K., Herrath, D. V., Grigoleit, H. G., Eds., W. de Gruyter, New York, 1982, pp. 901-940; Calverley, M. J. in Vitamin D: Molecular, Cellular, and Clinical Endocrinology, Norman, A. W., Ed., de Gruyter; Berlin, 1988, p. 51; Calverley, M. J., Tetrahedron, 1987, 43, 4609. The entire contents of each reference are hereby incorporated by reference.

Many analogues of calcitriol have been synthesized and evaluated. Among these, all the leading candidates include the 1α-hydroxyl A-ring substituent characteristic of calcitriol, i.e. they differ in the side chain attached to the D-ring of the steroid framework.

Some calcitriol analogues lacking the 1α-hydroxyl group have also been prepared, e.g. the 1β-hydroxyl, 1α-fluoro and the 1-unfunctionalized (i.e. 25-hydroxyvitamin D₃). However, these have been found to be much less biologically active than calcitriol and other synthesized 1α-hydroxy analogues.

Accordingly, it appears to be axiomatic among workers in the field that the 1α-hydroxy group is essential for desirable biological activity. See, for example, Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun., 97:1031 (1980); Chem. Pharm. Bull., 32:3525 (1984) and Bull. Soc. Chim. France, II:98 (1985), the entire contents of each are hereby incorporated by reference.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is based on the unexpected finding that the A-ring portion of vitamin D₃ analogues can be modified without negatively affecting the biological activity of the resulting compounds. In its broadest aspects, the invention provides vitamin D₃ analogues which include at least one hydroxyalkyl substituent on the ring-A.

It is contemplated that this hydroxyalkyl substituent may be placed on the 1, 2, 3- and/or 4- positions of the A-ring. However, the preferred embodiment of the invention is the vitamin D₃ analogue wherein the 1α-hydroxy group is replaced by a hydroxyalkyl group of, for example, 1-6 carbon atoms.

Structurally, the preferred D₃ analogues of the invention may be shown as follows: ##STR2## including the stereoisomers thereof, wherein R is --R³ OH, R³ being straight or branched alkyl of 1 to 6 carbons; R¹ is hydrogen and R² represents the substituents completing a vitamin D₃ analogue.

However, also contemplated are the corresponding analogues which include one or more hydroxyalkyl substituents in the 2,3- and/or 4-position in lieu of, or in addition to, the hydroxyalkyl in the 1-position of the ring-A.

It will be appreciated that the D-ring may include the conventional D₃ substitution or any other known modification thereof. See, for example, the variations shown in Cancer Research, 50:6857-6864 (Nov. 1, 1990), the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

The preferred compound according to the invention is 1-hydroxymethyl-25-hydroxyvitamin D₃ represented by the formula: ##STR3## or the formula: ##STR4##

A particularly preferred compound of the present invention is the compound YB represented by the formula: ##STR5##

Compound YB includes a hydroxyalkyl substituent in the 1-position and a modified D-ring side chain. As a result, compound YB demonstrates potent anti-proliferative activity comparable to that of calcitriol but has a VDR binding affinity of ˜10⁻³ relative to that of calcitriol.

However, as noted, the invention is not to be viewed as limited to these compounds as other analogues involving the attachment of one or more additional hydroxyalkyl groups on the ring-A, with various other modifications as substituents in the ring-D, are contemplated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows the growth inhibition of keratinocyte cell line PE by vitamin D₃ and 1-hydroxymethyl homologues at 3 μM.

FIG. 2A shows the inhibition of TPA-induced ornithine decarboxylase activity by pretreatment with vitamin D₃ and 1-hydroxymethyl homologues.

FIG. 2B shows a dose-response curve for the inhibition of TPA-induced ODC activity with the 1-hydroxymethyl vitamin D₃ diastereomers (-)-2 and (+)-3.

FIG. 3 shows a first example of the dose-response effects of calcitriol, compound YA and compound YB on keratinocyte proliferation. N₀ represents the number of cells at zero hours and N₁ represents the number of cells at 96 hours.

FIG. 4 shows a second example of the dose-response effects of calcitriol, compound YA and compound YB on keratinocyte proliferation.

FIG. 5 shows a comparison of the effects of 1,25D₃ (calcitriol), compound YA and compound YB on the proliferation of RWLeu-4 human chronic myelogenous leukemic cells as a function of dose. MCW-II5-y-A is compound YA and MCW-II5-y-B is compound YB.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Preferred procedures for preparing the 1-hydroxyalkyl analogues of the invention are shown hereinafter although it will be appreciated that other procedures or modifications thereof can be used and will be evident to those in the art. Thus, the preparation of the two diastereomeric forms of 1-hydroxymethyl-25-hydroxyvitamin D₃, is illustrated, but not limited, by the following reaction Schemes I-III in conjunction with the examples which follow: ##STR6##

The reaction scheme illustrated in Scheme III hereinafter utilizes methodology described earlier (J. Org. Chem., 56:4339 (1991); Ibid 57:000 (1992); Tetrahedron Lett., 32:5295 (1991); J. Org. Chem., 55:3967 (1990) and Accts. Chem. Res., 20:72 (1987)), the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference, to prepare ring-A phosphine oxide 11 for Horner-Wittig coupling with C,D-ring ketone 12 in a convergent approach to the vitamin D₃ family that was pioneered by Lythgoe et al. (J. Chem. Soc., Perkin I, 2608 (1977)), the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

The preparation process begins, as shown in Scheme I, using ambiphilic (chameleon-like) 3-bromo-2-pyrone (4) to undergo regiospecific, and stereoselective Diels-Alder cycloaddition with acrolein under sufficiently mild thermal conditions (70°-90° C.) to allow isolation on gram scale of the desired, unsaturated, bridged, bicyclic lactone adduct. Because this bicyclic aldehyde was unstable to chromatography, it was immediately reduced and then O-silylated to give chromatographically stable, crystalline, bicyclic, primary alcohol derivative 5 in 46% overall yield. Reductive cleavage of the bridgehead carbon-bromine bond was achieved in high yield under neutral radical conditions using tributyltinhydride and azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN). The halogen-free bicyclic lactone product is the synthetic equivalent of the product derived from 2-pyrone itself cycloadding to acrolein, a Diels-Alder reaction that requires high pressures and that cannot be accomplished simply by heating because of loss of CO₂ from the lactone bridge. Basic methanolysis of the lactone bridge and in situ conjugation of the carbon-carbon double bond gives the conjugated cyclohexene ester alcohol 6. Resolution of this alcohol 6 is achieved via formation and separation by preparative HPLC and preparative tlc of diastereomeric-esters 7a and 7b, derived from enantiomerically pure α-methoxyphenylacetic acid. Analytical HPLC indicated purified diastereomer 7a to have a diastereomeric excess (d.e.) of 98.8% and 7b of 96.5%. Methanolysis of diastereomeric esters 7a and 7b separately gave back the original alcohol 6 as a pair of enantiomers, 6a and 6b; each enantiomer was carried on separately.

The absolute stereochemistry of enantiomer 6a (and therefore also 6b) has been assigned by chemical correlation with a closely related compound of established absolute configuration (J. Chem. Soc., (C), 2352 (1971), the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference), as outlined in Scheme II. ##STR7##

Referring back to Scheme I, O-silylation of alcohols 6 gave bis-silyl ethers 8, and then reduction of the conjugated methyl ester functionality produced allylic alcohol 9. A [3,3] sigmatropic rearrangement using sulfinyl orthoester allowed efficient, one-flask, regiospecific formation of 2-carbon-extended conjugated dienoate esters 10 (J. Org. Chem., 56:6981 (1991), the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference). This mixture of geometric isomers was photochemically isomerized into the desired Z-10. Based on literature precedent (J. Org. Chem., 51.:3098 (1986), the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference), dienoate esters 10 were reduced, chlorinated, converted into the corresponding phosphines, and finally oxidized to give ring-A phosphine oxides 11 as two enantiomers (11a and 11b) having almost equal but opposite specific rotations of approximately 54°.

Lythgoe-type coupling (J. Chem. Soc., Perkin I, 2608 (1977), the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference) of 60-100 mg of ring-A phosphine oxides 11a and 11b with enantiomerically pure ring-C,D chiron 12 was followed immediately by fluoride-promoted desilylation to form (-)-1αhydroxymethyl-25-hydroxyvitamin D₃ [(-)-2] and (+)1β-hydroxymethyl-3α,25-hydroxy analogue (+)-3 in good yields (Scheme III). Two aspects of this coupling should be noted in particular. First, a systematic study of bases used to deprotonate phosphine oxides like 11 (e.g., MeLi, MeLi•TMEDA, n-BuLi, PhLi, LDA) showed PhLi to be best as determined by the yield of the coupled triene product. Second, the scale of the coupling reaction was critical to its success. Thus, while coupling using 60-100 mg of ring-A phosphine oxide proceeded routinely in good yields, coupling on 10-20 mg scale proceeded poorly even if such special precautions were taken such as scrupulous drying of the gaseous nitrogen or argon gas used as the atmosphere above the reaction mixture, scrupulous drying of solvents and reagents, use of molecular sieves, and azeotroping off any adventitious water by adding and removing benzene from the A and the C,D-ring units repeatedly. ##STR8##

While both 1-hydroxymethyl-25-hydroxyvitamin D₃ diastereomers (-)-2 and (+)-3 demonstrate useful biological activity, it is surprising to find that there are considerable physical difficulties between these diastereomers. For example, whereas 1α-hydroxymethyl diastereomer (-)-2 is easily crystallized, 1β-hydroxymethyl diastereomer (+)-3 is very difficult to crystallize. This difference in crystallinity offers a significant advantage since a mixture of diastereomers (-)-2 and (+)-3, produced from racemic ring-A phosphine oxide 11 and enantiomerically pure ring-C,D chiron 12, could be induced to yield crystals of only diastereomer (-)-2. Also, 1α-hydroxymethyl diastereomer (-)-2 demonstrates unexpectedly poor solubility in such organic solvents as methylene chloride, chloroform and methanol. Nevertheless, both hydroxymethyl diastereomers (-)-2 and (+)-3 have extremely similar W and high field ¹ H and ¹³ C NMR spectra as well as extremely similar chromatographic properties.

EXAMPLE 1 Bromobicyclic Lactone 5

A 25 mL hydrolysis tube was charged with 1.43 g (8.2 mmol, 1.0 eq.) of 3-bromo-2-pyrone 4, 3.69 g (65.7 mmol, 8.0 eq.) of acrolein, 23.0 mg of barium carbonate and 10 mL of methylene chloride. This was sealed under nitrogen and warmed to 70°-90° C. for 91 hours with constant stirring. Examination of an aliquot of the reaction mixture by 400 MHz ¹ H NMR indicated that complete formation of a single bicycloadduct had occurred. A stream of nitrogen was then blown over the reaction mixture so as to remove the acrolein.

After holding this under high vacuum, the crude product was diluted with methylene chloride/diethyl ether (ca. 1:1) and passed through a plug of celite. The solvent was evaporated to give 3.32 g of a yellow oil which was dissolved in 50 mL ethanol and 20 mL of diglyme and cooled to -78° C. (dry ice/acetone) under argon. To this, a solution of 476 mg (12.6 mmol, 1.5 eq.) of NaBH₄ in 8 mL of ethanol was added. After stirring for 30 minutes, the mixture was diluted with methylene chloride and then 4 mL of saturated aqueous ammonium chloride was added.

After warming to room temperature, this mixture was dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate, filtered through a plug of celite, and purified by column chromatography (silica gel, 20% to 50% ethyl acetate/hexane) to afford 1.42 g of a yellow oil which was immediately dissolved in 20 mL of anhydrous methylene chloride under argon and cooled to 0° C. To this 0.75 mL (6.4 mmol, 1.05 eq.) of 2,6-lutidine was added followed by the addition of 1.5 mL (6.5 mmol, 1.07 eq.) of tert-butyldimethylsilyl trifluoromethanesulfonate. This was stirred for 30 minutes, warmed to room temperature, diluted with methylene chloride, washed with water, the organic portion dried over magnesium sulfate, and the solvent evaporated.

Purification by silica gel column chromatography (10 to 20% ethyl acetate/hexane) afforded 1.32 g (3.8 mmol, 46%) of the silyloxy bromo bicycloadduct 5 as a white solid (Rf=0.7, 50% ethyl acetate/hexane), mp 100.5°-102° C. ¹ H NMR (CDCl₃) δ 6.37-6.40 (m, 1H), 6.33 (dd, 8, 5 Hz, 1H), 5.18-5.22 (m, 1H), 3.96 (dd, J=10.1, 3.5 Hz, 1H), 3.65 (dd, J=10.1, 7.1 Hz, 1H), 2.43-2.49 (m, 1H), 2.31-2.37 (m, 1H), 1.91 (ddd, J=13.2, 3.9, 1.3 Hz, 1H), 0.86 (s, 9H), 0.05 (s, 3H), 0.04 (s, 3H); ¹³ C NMR (CDCl₃) δ 169.0, 136.4, 1-30.4, 73.5, 64.3, 62.1, 41.1, 31.2, 25.7 (3C), 18.1, -5.4, -5.5; FT-IR (CHCl₃) 1763 cm⁻¹ ; HRMS, m/z (M⁺ -t-Bu) calcd for C₁₄ H₂₃ O₃ SiBr 288.9896, found 288.9901.

EXAMPLE 2 Hydroxy α, β-Unsaturated Ester 6 (from 5)

To a 25 mL flame-dried round-bottomed flask 179.6 mg (0.52 mmol, 1.0 eq.) of silyloxy bromo bicycloadduct 5, and a total of 0.20 mL of tri-n-butyltin hydride, 15 mg of azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN), and 4.0 mL of an hydrous benzene was added and refluxed (placed in a preheated oil bath) for a total of 75 minutes. This was cooled to room temperature and then diluted with wet ether. A few drops of 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU) were added and the mixture stirred for 5 minutes at which time the white precipitate was removed by filtration through a plug of silica gel with ether. The solvent was evaporated and the resulting oil placed in a 50 mL flame-dried round-bottomed flask under argon. The oil was dissolved in 3 mL of anhydrous tetrahydrofuran (THF) and cooled to -45° C. To this, 0.6 mL of a freshly prepared sodium methoxide solution (20 mg of sodium in 4.0 mL of anhydrous methanol) was added and stirred at -45° C. for 2.5 hours and then at 25° C. for 1 hour. The reaction mixture was diluted with methylene chloride, quenched with saturated aqueous ammonium chloride, dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate, filtered, and the solvent evaporated. Purification by silica gel chromatography afforded 119.2 mg (0.40 mmol, 77%) of hydroxy ester 6 as a colorless oil (Rf=0.2, 25% ethyl acetate/hexane). ¹ H NMR (CDCl₃) δ 6.94 (ddd, J=5, 3, 1 Hz, 1H), 4.20-4.12 (m, 1H), 3.72 (s, 3H), 3.74-3.71 (m, 1H), 3.50 (dd, J=10.0, 8.0 Hz, 1H), 2.90 (bs, 1H), 2.60 (dtdd, J=19.2, 6, 1.6, 1 Hz, 1H), 2.23 (dddd, J=12.4, 4, 2.8, 1.6 Hz, 1H), 2.09 (dddd, J=19.2, 8.8, 3.0, 2.0 Hz, 1H), 1.65 (bs, 1-OH, this signal disappears upon D₂ O quench), 1.57 (ddd, J=12.4, 11.2, 6 Hz, 1H), 0.87 (s, 9H), 0.03 (s, 3H), 0.01 (s, 3H); ¹³ C NMR (CD₂ Cl₂) δ 167.4, 139.9, 130.5, 65.1, 63.6, 51.8, 38.1, 35.6, 33.8, 26.1 (3C), 18.5, -5.3, -5.4; FT-IR (thin film) 3412, 1716 cm⁻¹ ; HRMS, m/z (M⁺ -t-Bu) calcd for C₁₅ H₂₈ O₄ Si 243.1053, found 243.1059.

EXAMPLE 3 Hydroxy α, β-Unsaturated Ester 6 (from 7)

A round-bottomed flask was charged with 0.632 g (1.41 mmol) of the diester 7b which was dissolved in 10 mL of tetrahydrofuran and 10 mL of methanol and then cooled to 0° C. To this, 0.20 mL of a freshly prepared sodium methoxide stock solution (32.1 mg of sodium in 5.0 mL of methanol) was added and rapidly stirred for 1 hour and then warmed to room temperature. Rapid stirring was maintained and the progress of the reaction was monitored by TLC. Periodic addition of sodium methoxide stock solution was made until the reaction was complete (ca. 8 hours). Most of the solvent was evaporated and the mixture was diluted with diethyl ether and passed through a two-inch plug of silica gel. Purification by silica gel column chromatography (25% to 75% ethyl acetate/hexane) gave 0.386 g (1.28 mmol, 91%) of the hydroxy ester (+)-6a as a colorless oil:

[α]_(D) ²³°C. +59.7° (C=0.082, CH₂ Cl₂, d.e. 98.8%)

The same procedure was used for the conversion of 0.900 g (2.01 mmol) of the diester 7b into 0.548 g (1.82 mmol, 91%) of the hydroxy ester (-)-6b as a colorless oil:

[α]_(D) ²³°C. +59.4° (C=0.085, CH₂ Cl₂, d.e. 98.8%)

EXAMPLE 4 α-Methoxyphenylacetic Esters 7a and 7b

To flame-dried 250 mL round-bottomed flask 3.11 g (10.4 mmol of hydroxy ester 6, 2.06 g (12.4 mmol, 1.2 eq.) of (R)-(-)-α-methoxyphenyl acetic acid, 2.45 g (11.9 mmol, 1.15 eq.) of 1,3-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide, and 0.15 g (1.2 mmol, 0.1 eq.) of 4-dimethylaminopyridine were dissolved in 150 mL of anhydrous Et₂ O under argon. This reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 12 h. The white precipitate was then removed by filtration, the organic layer was washed twice with water, dried over MgSO₄, and the solvent removed by rotary evaporation to leave a very light yellow oil. All impurities were removed from the diastereomeric ester 7a and 7b by silica gel column chromatography (0-20% EtOAc/hexane). The diastereomers were then separated by preparative normal phase HPLC (4.5% EtOAc/hexane, 30 mL/min) and by preparative thick layer chromatography (PTLC, multiple elutions with 15% EtOAc/hexane, 1500μ plates). On a preparative scale, the diastereomers overlapped on both HPLC and PTLC; therefore, fractions were cut and repurified by numerous injections (ca. 8) and applications, respectively. The diastereomeric excess (d.e.) of fractions was deduced by analytical normal phase HPLC (7a: Rτ=13.4; 7b: Rτ=15.1, 1.0 mL/min, 10% EtOAc/hexane). A 1.09 g (2.43 mmol, 23%) sample of 7a (d.e. 98.5%) and a 0.90 g (2.01 mmol, 19%) sample of 7b (d.e. 96.5%) were obtained. A 1.22 g (2.72 mmol, 26%) mixture of 7a and 7b was not adequately separated so as to be used in the subsequent synthetic transformations. 7a: ¹ H NMR (CDCl₃) δ 7.44-7.32 (m, 5H), 6.80 (ddd, J=4.7, 3.35, 1.1 Hz, 1H), 5.34-5.24 (m, 1H), 4.75 (s, 1H), 3.72 (s, 3H), 3.69 (d, J=3.4 Hz, 1H), 3.57 (dd, J=10, 7.2 HZ, 1H), 3.41 (s, 3H), 2.90 (bs, 1H), 2.57-2.51 (m, 1H), 2.20-2.15 (m, 1H), 1.95 (dddd, J=19.1, 8.1, 3.35, 1.9 Hz, 1H), 1.72 (ddd, J=12.8, 11.2, 6.0 Hz, 1H), 0.85 (s, 9H), 0.02 (s, 3H), 0.01 (s, 3H); ¹³ C NMR (CDCl₃) δ 169.9, 166.5, 137.9, 136.1, 130.0, 128.4, 128.3 (2C), 126.9 (2C), 82.4, 67.6, 64.3, 57.1, 51.3, 36.7, 30.9, 29.7, 25.7 (3C), 18.0, -5.7, -5.8; FT-IR (thin film) 1749, 1716 cm⁻¹ ; HRMS, m/z (M+-t-Bu) calcd for C₂₄ H₃₆ O₆ Si 391.1577, found 391.1580. 7b: ¹ H NMR (CDCl₃) δ 7.43-7.31 (m, 5H), 6.88 (ddd, J=4.75, 3.3 1 Hz, 1H), 5.29-5.21 (m, 1H), 4.73 (s, 1H), 3.71 (s, 3H), 3.64 (dd, J=9.9, 3.5 Hz, 1H), 3.52 (dd, J=9.9, 7.1 Hz, 1H), 3.40 (s, 3H), 2.77 (bs, 1H), 2.67 (dddd, J=19, 6, ≈4.75, 1Hz, 1H), 2.16 (ddd, J=19, 8, 3.3, 2 Hz, 1H), 2.00 (m, 1H), 1.59 (12.8, 11.0, 6, 1H), 0.81 (s, 9H), -0.03 (s, 3H), -0.07 (s, 3H); ¹³ C NMR (CDCl₃ ) δ 170.1, 166.7, 138.1, 136.2, 130.3, 128.6, 128.5 (2C), 127.0 (2C), 82.5, 67.8, 64.3, 57.2, 51.5, 36.7, 31.4, 29.6, 25.7 (3C), 18.1, -5.6, -5.7; FT-IR (thin film) 1749, 1716 cm⁻¹ ; HRMS, m/z (M⁺ -t-Bu) calcd for C₂₄ H₃₆ O₆ Si 391.1577, found 391.1576.

EXAMPLE 5 Bis Silyloxy α,β-Unsaturated Ester 8

In a 50 mL flame-dried round bottomed flask 202.5 mg (0.67 mmol, 1.0 eq.) of hydroxy ester 6 was dissolved in 15 mL of anhydrous methylene chloride under argon. To this 0.100 mL (0.84 mmol, 1.25 eq.) of 2,6-lutidine was added and stirred for 3 minutes followed by the addition of 0.195 mL (0.84 mmol, 1.25 eq.) of tert-butyldimethylsilyl trifluoromethanesulfonate. After 30 minutes, the solvent was evaporated and purification by silica gel column chromatography (5 to 10% ethyl acetate/hexane) gave 240.4 (0.58 mmol, 86%) of the silyloxy ester 8 as a colorless oil (Rf=0.6, 10% ethyl acetate/hexane). ¹ H NMR (CDCl₃) δ 6.92 (ddd, J=5.2, 2.8, 1 Hz, 1H), 4.15 (m, 1H), 3.72-3.69 (m, 1H), 3.71 (s, 3H), 3.52 (dd, J=9, 8 Hz, 1H), 2.76 (bs, 1H), 2.47 (dtd, J=19.2, ca. 5.2, 1 Hz, 1H), 2.17-2.12 (m, 1H), 2.13-2.05 (dddd, J=19.2, 9, 2.8, 2.0 Hz, 1H), 1.58-1.51 (ddd, J=12.8, 11.2, 2.0, Hz, 1H), 0.88 (s, 9H), 0.87 (s, 9H), 0.07 (s, 3H), 0.06 (s, 3H), 0.02 (s, 3H), 0.01 (s, 3H); ¹³ C NMR (CD₂ Cl₂) δ 167.4, 140.3, 130.4, 65.3, 64.6, 51.7, 38.4, 36.5, 34.6, 26.1 (6C), 18.6, 18.5, -4.4 to -5.3 (4C); FT-IR (thin film) 1716 cm⁻¹ ; HRMS, m/z (M⁺ -t-Bu) calcd for C₂₁ H₄₂ O₄ Si₂ 357.1917, found 357.1922. (-)-8 from (-)-6b: [α]_(D) ²³°C. -46.7° (c=0.094,CH₂ CI₂, d.e. 96.5%) (+)-8 from (+)-6a: [α]_(D) ²³°C. -47.1° (C=0.100,CH₂ CI₂, d.e. 98.8%)

EXAMPLE 6 Dienoates E-10 and Z-10

A flame-dried 50 mL round-bottomed flask was charged with 240.4 mg (0.58 mmol, 1.0 eq.) of the silyloxy ester 8, dissolved in 4.0 mL of anhydrous toluene, and cooled to -78° C. under argon. To this 1.3 mL (1.2 mmol, 2.2 eq.) of diisobutylaluminum hydride DIBAL-H (1.0M in hexane) was added and stirred at -78° C. for 30 minutes and then at 25° C. for 90 minutes. This was quenched with 5 drops of 2N sodium potassium tartrate, 1.5 mL of water, and diluted with methylene chloride. This was separated, the organic portion dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate. Purification by silica gel column chromatography (10 to 25% ethyl acetate/hexane) gave 194.2 mg (0.050 mmol, 87%) of the allylic alcohol 9 as a colorless oil (Rf=0.5, 25% ethyl acetate/hexane) which was immediately used in the preparation of E-10 and Z-10. A 25 mL hydrolysis tube was charged with 184.7 mg (0.48 mmol, 1.0 eq. ) of the allylic alcohol 9, a total of 427 mg (1.5 mmol, 3.1 eq. ) of 1-phenylsulfinyl-2,2,2-triethoxyethane, 3 mg of 2,4,6-trimethylbenzoic acid, and 9 mL of anhydrous methylene chloride. This was sealed under nitrogen and warmed to 135°-145° C. for a total of 12.5 hours. After cooling the reaction mixture, the solvent was evaporated and purification by PTLC (3×1000μ, 3% ethyl acetate/hexane) gave 141.6 mg (0.31 mmol, 65%) of E-10 and 19.9 mg (0.04 mmol, 9%) of Z-10 as oils. Shorter reaction times lead to increased Z/E ratios. E-10: ¹ H NMR (CDCl₃) δ 5.84 (t, J=1.4 Hz, 1H), 511 (s, 1H), 4.81 (t, J=1.4 Hz, 1H); ¹³ C NMR (CDCl₃) δ 1.664, 158.0, 149.6, 115.4, 111.4, 66.7, 65.2, 59.6, 42.2, 38.4, 36.5, 25.8 (3C), 25.7 (3C), 18.1, 18.0, 14.3, -4.89, -4.94, -5.48, -5.53; FT-IR (thin film) 1716 cm⁻¹ ; HRMS, m/z (M⁺ -t-Bu) calcd for C₂₄ H₄₆ O₄ Si₂ 397.2230, found 397.2235. Z-10: ¹ H NMR (CDCl₃) δ 5.58 (t, 1 Hz, 1H), 4.96-4.93 (m, 2H), 4.15-4.04 (m, 3 H), 3.71 (dd, J=10, 5.0 Hz, 1H), 3.52 (t, 10 Hz, 1H), 2.75-2.68 (m, 1H), 2.44 (ddt, 12.4, 4.0, 1 Hz, 1H), 2.26 (dddd, 12.4, 8.0, 1.6 Hz, 1H), 2.03 (dddd, J=13, 5.6, 4.0, 1.6 Hz, 1H), 1.7 (ddd, 13, 4, 1 Hz, 1H), 1.23 (t, 7.2 Hz, 3H), 0.089 (s, 9H), 0.087 (s, 9H), 0.06 (s, 6H), 0.043 (s, 3H), 0.040 (s, 3H); ¹³ C NMR (CDCl₃) δ 166.3, 154.2, 145.6, 116.4, 112.3, 67.5, 64.2, 60.0, 47.2, 44.0, 36.9, 25.84 (3C), 25.75 (3C), 18.2, 18.0, 14.0, -4.73, -4.80, -5.42, -5.50; FT-IR (CDCl₃) 1718 cm⁻¹ ; HRMS, m/z (M⁺ -t-Bu) calcd for C₂₄ H₄₆ O₄ Si₂ 397.2230, found 397.2231. (-)-E-10 from (+)-8: [α]_(D) ²³°C. -38.0° (c=0.094, CHCI₃, d.e. 98.5%) (+)-E-10 from (-)-8: [α]_(D) ²³°C. -37.2° (c=0.051, CHCI₃, d.e. 96.5%)

EXAMPLE 7 Photoisomerization to dienoate Z-10

A borosilicate test tube was charged with 141.1 mg (0.31 mmol) of dienoate E-10, 9.3 mg of 9-fluorenone, and 9.0 mL of tert-butyl methyl ether. The tube was sealed with a rubber septum, placed in a solution of 2M sodium orthovanadate and irradiated with a medium pressure mercury arc lamp for 16 hours. This was purified by PTLC (1×1000μ, 1×1500μ, 3% ethyl acetate/hexane) to give 132.3 mg of an inseparable mixture of Z-10 and 9-fluorenone (therefore, the yield of Z-10 would be 123.0 mg (0.27 mmol, 87%); that is, 132.3 mg of starting material minus 9.3 mg of fluorenone).

EXAMPLE 8 Phosphine oxide 11

A flame-dried round-bottomed flask was charged with 123.0 mg (0.27 mmol, 1.0 eq. containing 9.3 mg of 9-fluorenone) of Z-10 and 1.5 mL of anhydrous toluene under argon and then cooled to 0° C. To this 0.60 mL (0.60 mmol, 2.2 eq.) of diisobutylaluminum hydride DIBAL-H (1M in hexane) was added and stirred at 0° C. for 35 minutes and then warmed to 25° C. An additional 0.06 ml (0.06 mmol, 0.2 eq.) of DIBAL-H was added and stirred for 2 hours. The reaction mixture was quenched with 0.5 mL of 2N sodium potassium tartrate, diluted with methylene chloride, separated, and the organic portion dried over an hydrous magnesium sulfate. Purification by PTLC (2×1000μ), (2 elutions) 10% ethyl acetate/hexane and then 15% ethyl acetate/hexane gave 56.8 mg (0.14 mmol, 51%) of the allylic alcohol as an oil.

A flame-dried 25 mL round-bottomed flask was charged with 90 mg (0.67 mmol, 4.8 eq.) of N-chlorosuccinimide and dissolved in 1.5 mL of anhydrous methylene chloride and then cooled to 0° C. under argon. To this 0.052 mL (0.71 mmol, 5.1 eq.) of dimethyl sulfide was added. The white precipitate that immediately formed was stirred at 0° C. for 10 minutes and then at -20° C. (dry ice/ethylene glycol) for 10 minutes. To this a solution of the freshly prepared allylic alcohol in 1.5 mL of anhydrous methylene chloride was added via cannula (the flask containing the alcohol solution was rinsed with 0.5 mL of anhydrous methylene chloride and this also transferred to the reaction mixture via cannula). This was stirred at -20° C. for 15 minutes and then at 25° C. for 50 minutes. The reaction mixture was quenched with water, diluted with methylene chloride, separated, the organic portion dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate, filtered, and the solvent evaporated. This was passed through a column of florisil with 10% ethyl acetate/hexane to give 46.7 mg (0.11 mmol, 79%) of the allylic chloride. This was then dissolved in 2.0 mL of anhydrous tetrahydrofuran in a flame dried 50 mL round-bottomed flask under argon and to this a freshly prepared tetrahydrofuran solution of lithium diphenylphosphide (Ph₂ PLi, this deep orange reactant was prepared by the equimolar addition of n-butyllithium to diphenylphosphine) was added slowly until a yellow color persisted. This was then quenched with 0.5 mL of water, the tetrahydrofuran evaporated, diluted with 10 mL of methylene chloride, 6 drops of 30% hydrogen peroxide were added, and then rapidly stirred for 10 minutes. This was diluted with methylene chloride, dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate, filtered, and the solvent evaporated.

Purification by silica gel column chromatography (5 to 50% ethyl acetate/hexane) afforded 29.3 mg (0.049 mmol, 45%)(18% from Z-10) of the phosphine oxide 11 as a white solid after removal from benzene, (Rf=0.3, 50% ethyl acetate/hexane), mp 118°-122° C. ¹ H NMR (C₆ D₆) δ 7.83-7.78 (m, 4H), 7.05-7.03 (m, 6H), 5.46 (ddt, J=14.0, 7.6, 1.2 Hz, 1H), 5.42 (d, J=2 Hz 1H), 4.99 (dd, J=2, 1.2 Hz, 1H), 3.95-3.90 (m, 1H), 3.69 (dd, J=10.0, 6.4 Hz, 1H), 3.55 (dd, J=10.0, 8.8 Hz, 1H), 3.32-3.12 (m, 2H), 2.70-2.63 (m, 1H), 2.40-2.33 (m, 1H), 2.26-2.19 (m, 1H), 1.94-1.87 (m, 1H), 1.83 (ddd, J=13, 7.6, 4.8 Hz, 1H), 0.98 (s, 9H), 0.95 (s, 9H), 0.071 (s, 3H), 0.065 (s, 3H), 0.049 (s, 3H), 0.014 (s, 3H); ¹³ C NMR (C₆ D₆) δ 145.4 (d, J=2.5 Hz), 142.0 (d, J=12.2 Hz), 132.8 (d, J=98.0 Hz) 132.7 (d, J=98.2 Hz), 131.62 (d, J=2.5 Hz), 131.58 (d, J=2.6), 130.93 (d, J=9.2 Hz), 130.88 (d, J=9.2 Hz), 128.42 (d, J=11.7 Hz), 128.40 (d, J=11.6), 114.0 (d, J=7.8 Hz), 112.6, 67.32, 67.30, 64.1, 46.7, 44.1, 37.4, 31.2 (d, J=70.9 Hz), 25.8 (3C), 25.7 (3C), 18.0 (2C), -4.8, -4.9, -5.4 (2C); IR (CHCl₃) 3020, 2956, 2930, 2857, 1680, 1472, 1463, 1438, 1255, 1100 cm⁻¹ ; MS, m/z (E1) 596 (M⁺, 3), 540 (43), 539 (100), 407 (58), 332 (22), 202 (27), 201 (25), 75 (30), 73 (86); HRMS, m/z (M⁺) calcd for C₃₄ H₅₃ O₃ Si₂ P 596.3271, found 596.3277. (-)-11a from (-)-Z-10: [α]_(D) ²³.5°C. -54.0° (C=0.061, CH₂ CI₂, d.e. 98.5%) (+)-11b from (+)-Z-10: [α]_(D) ²³.5°C. -54.4° (c=0.096, CH₂ CI₂, d.e. 96.5%)

EXAMPLE 9 1α-hydroxymethyl-25-hydroxyvitamin D₃ [(-)-2]

A flame-dried 10 mL round-bottomed flask was charged with 79.7 mg (0.13 mmol, 1.9 eq.) of the phosphine oxide (-)-11a and dissolved in 1.0 mL of freshly distilled anhydrous tetrahydrofuran and cooled to -78° C. under argon. Phosphine oxide (-)-11a was azeotropically dried with benzene and held under high vacuum for 24 hours immediately prior to use. To this 0.091 mL (0.138 mmol, 2.0 eq.) of PhLi (1.52M in diethyl ether) was added drop wise over a 5 minute period. A deep orange-red color persisted after the second drop of the PhLi solution was added. This was allowed to stir an additional 8 minutes at -78° C. at which time a precooled (-78° C.) solution consisting of 24.3 mg (0.069 mmol, 1.0 eq.) of the CD ring ketone in 0.5 mL of freshly distilled anhydrous tetrahydrofuran was added drop wise via cannula.

The C,D ring ketone 12 was also azeotropically dried with benzene and held under high vacuum immediately prior to use. The flask containing the C,D ring ketone 12 was rinsed with 0.4 mL of tetrahydrofuran and this was also slowly added to the reaction mixture via cannula. This deep orange-red solution was stirred in the dark at -78° C. for 2.5 hours and then warmed to -65° C. over 30 minutes. At this temperature, the reaction mixture turned to a light yellow. This was immediately quenched with 0.3 mL of 2N sodium potassium tartrate followed by the addition of dilute aqueous potassium carbonate. After warming to room temperature, the reaction was diluted with methylene chloride, separated, the organic portion dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate, and filtered.

Purification by silica gel column chromatography (5% to 10% ethyl acetate/hexane) afforded 37.9 mg (0.049 mmol, 69%) of the crude coupled product. This was immediately placed in a flame-dried 10 mL round-bottomed flask and dissolved in 3.0 mL of freshly distilled anhydrous tetrahydrofuran under argon. To this 0.17 mL (0.17 mmol, 3.5 eq.) of tetrabutylammonium fluoride (1M in tetrahydrofuran) was added and stirred at 25° C. in the dark for 14 hours.

The solvent was evaporated and the crude product passed through a column of silica gel with 5% to 10% methanol/diethyl ether and then purified by PTLC (3×1000μ, 8% methanol/diethyl ether) to afford 17.2 mg (0.039 mmol, 83%) (58% from (-)-11a) of 1α-hydroxymethyl-25-hydroxyvitamin D₃ ((-)-2). This compound was only sparingly soluble in organic solvents (e.g. MeOH, CHCl₃, CH₂ Cl₂). ¹ H NMR (CDCl₃) δ 6.32 (d, J=11.2 Hz, 1H), 5.95 (d, J=11.2 Hz, 1H), 5.18 (d, J=2 Hz, 1H), 5.02 (d, J=2 Hz, 1H), 0.93 (d, J=6.4 Hz, 3H), 0.54 (s, 3H). ¹³ C NMR (CD₃ OD) δ 147.7, 142.6, 136.7, 124.0 119.0, 114.1, 71.5, 67.4, 64.7, 58.0, 57.6, 47.4, 47.0, 46.5, 45.3, 41.9, 37.8, 37.6, 37.5, 30.0, 29.3, 29.1, 28.7, 24.7, 23.3, 22.0, 19.4, 12.3; UV (EtOH) Λ Max 264 nm; mp 181°-184° C.

EXAMPLE 10 1β-hydroxymethyl-3β-norhydroxy-3α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃ ((+)-3)

This procedure was similar to the one used for the preparation of vitamin (-)-2. The amounts of reagents utilized were as follows: phosphine oxide(+)-11b: 101.3 mg (0.17 mmol, 2.7 eq.), PhLi(1.52M in Et₂ O): 0.135 mL(0.21 mmol, 3.3 eq.), C,D ring 12: 22.3 mg (0.063 mmol, 1.0 eq.). This afforded 21.1 mg (0.049 mmol, 76%) of the vitamin (+)-3 as an off white solid. ¹ H NMR (CDCl₃) δ 6,31 (d, J=11.3 Hz, 1H), 5.94 (d, J=11.3 Hz, 1H), 5.15 (dd, J=2.1, 1.0 Hz, 1H), 4.99 (d, J=2 Hz, 1H), 4.03-3.97 (m, 1H), 3.63-3.55 (m, 2H), 2.83-2.78 (m, 1H), 2.65-2.57 (m, 1H), 2.30-2.24 (m, 1H), 0.93 (d, J=9.8 Hz, 3H), 0.5 (s, 3H); ¹³ C NMR (CDCl₃) δ 145.4, 143.3, 134.1, 123.7 117.0, 113.9, 71.1, 67.2, 64.4, 56.5, 56.3, 46.3 45.9, 44.5, 40.5, 37.5, 36.4, 36.1, 29.4, 29.2, 29.1, 27.7, 23.6, 22.3, 20.8. 18.8, 11.9; UV (EtOH) Amax 264 nm; mp 118°-123° C.

The 1-hydroxymethyl derivatives of the invention have been compared with calcitriol for biological activity. The compounds were tested for growth inhibition of murine keratinocyte cells (cell line PE) and for the inhibition of TPA-induced ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity.

The cell line PE was derived from a papilloma induced in female SENCAR mice by a standard skin initiation/promotion protocol (Carcinogenesis, 7:949-958 (1986), the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference) and was chosen for its particular sensitivity to the induction of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity by the extensively characterized tumor promoter TPA. The PE cell line culture medium used in the tests consisted of Eagle's minimal essential medium without calcium chloride supplemented with 8% chelexed fetal calf serum and 1% antibiotic-antimycotic and the addition of CaCl₂ to 0.05 mM Ca⁺⁺.

EXAMPLE 11 Compound YB

Four of the currently known analogues of 1,25D3 (calcitriol) that are among the most active inducers of leukemic cell differentiation are shown below. ##STR9##

The potencies, relative to 1,25D3 and determined using HL-60 cells, are shown underneath each compound. Compound KH 1060 was 133 times as effective as 1,25D3 in the induction of leukemic cell (HL-60) differentiation.

Table 1 shows the results of further investigations into the effect of the D-ring side chains on the inhibition of proliferation (Anzano et al., Cancer Research, 54: 1653-1656, 1994; Vitamin D, Proceedings of the Eighth Workshop on Vitamin D, Paris, France, Jul. 8-10, 1991, Norman et al., eds., W. deGruyter, New York, 1991, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference); induction of differentiation (Ostrem et al., J. Biol. Chem., 262: 14164-14171, 1987); and calcemic effects of calcitriol analogues.

                                      TABLE 1                                      __________________________________________________________________________     SAR of Side-Chain Analogues of Calcitriol                                                              Relative Potency                                                               Inhibition of                                                                         Induction of                                                                           Calcemic                                Side Chain       Cmpd   Proliferation.sup.a                                                                   Differentiation.sup.a                                                                  Effects.sup.b                           __________________________________________________________________________      ##STR10##       Calcitriol                                                                            1      1       1                                        ##STR11##       Mc-903 (Calcipotriol)                                                                 1.3    1       <0.01                                    ##STR12##       KH-1060                                                                               31,000 100,000 1.3                                      ##STR13##       EB1089 68     67      0.4                                     __________________________________________________________________________      .sup.a Human lymphoma cells U 937                                              .sup.b Lewis rats                                                        

These results led to the synthesis of compound YB having a hydroxymethyl group in the 1-position and the side chain of compound KH 1060 attached to the D ring. The structure of compound YB is represented by the formula: ##STR14##

Preparation of Compound YB

Compound YA and YB were prepared according to the following procedures and as outlined in Schemes IV, V and VI below.

Lythgoe-Inhoffen Diol 3.

A flame-dried 500 mL, three-necked round bottomed flask was charged sequentially with the following: 42 mg (0.5 mmol, 0.07 equiv.) of NaHCO₃, 22.5 mL of anhydrous MeOH, 100.5 mL of anhydrous CH₂ Cl₂, and 3.0 g (7.0 mmol) of ergocalciferol 1 (Vitamin D₂, [α]²⁵ +100°, c=1.5, EtOH). While vigorously stirring, the solution was cooled to -78° C. and treated with O₃ (O₂ pressure=7.5 psi) until a deep, blue color developed and persisted (approximately 45-50 min.). The solution was subsequently flushed with O₂ (7.5 psi) for 10-15 min. until the blue color faded. Upon addition of triphenylphosphine (Ph₃ P, 2.6 g, 0.01 mol, 1.4 equiv.), the reaction mixture was allowed to warm to room temperature and stirred for 3 hrs.

Concentration of the solution by rotary evaporator, followed by purification via silica gel chromatography (15% EtOAc/hexane), afforded 851 mg of impure (slowly decomposing, evidenced by TLC and ¹ H NMR) "Grundmann Ketone" 2 in 50% yield as a yellow oil (immediately used in preparation of "Lythgoe-Inhoffen Diol" 3 (Rf=0.7, 50% EtOAc/hexane); ¹ H NMR (CDCl₃) δ 9.54 (d, J=2.9 Hz, 1H), 2.5-1.2 (m, 13H), 1.1 (d, J=6.9 Hz, 3H), 0.62 (3H, s).

A flame-dried 50 mL round-bottomed flask was charged with 851 mg (4.0 mmol) of ketone aldehyde 2, dissolved in 20 mL of anhydrous MeOH, and cooled to 0° C. Solid sodium borohydride was added in a portionwise manner over a period of 30 min. until complete disappearance of starting material was observed by TLC. After stirring for an additional 30 min. at room temperature, the mixture was quenched with water, extracted three times with Et₂ O, dried over MgSO₄, filtered, and concentrated by rotary evaporation.

Purification by silica gel chromatography (50% EtOAc/hexane)afforded 498.5 mg (2.4 mmol) of diol 3 in 59% yield as a white solid (R_(f) =0.5, 50% EtOAc/hexane); m.p. 108°-110° C. (Inhoffen et al., Chem. Ber., 91: 781, 1958, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference, m.p. 109°-110° C.); ¹ H NMR (CDCl₃) δ 4.05 (m, 1H), 3.62 and 3.59 (2d, J=3.2 and 3.6 Hz, 1H), 3.34 (dd, J=6.8, 10.4 Hz, 1H), 1.97 (m, 1H), 1.86-1.77 (m, 3H), 1.59-1.13 (m, 11H), 1.0 (d, J=6.8 Hz, 3H), 0.93 (s, 3H); ¹³ C NMR (CDCl₃) δ 69.1, 67.7, 52.9, 52.3, 41.8, 40.2, 38.2, 33.5, 26.6, 22.5, 17.4, 16.6, 13.5; FT-IR 4212, 3621, 3464, 3017, 2943, 2871, 2400, 1473, 1458, 1446, 1372 cm⁻¹. HRMS, m/e (M⁺) calcd for C₁₃ H₂₄ O₂ 212.1776, found 212.1779.

O-Silylated Aldehyde 5

A flame-dried 50 mL round bottomed flask was charged with 344 mg (0.36 mmol, 0.8 equiv.) of RuCl₂ (PPh₃)₃ and 10 mL of benzene. Diol 3 (95.2 mg, 0.45 mmol) was taken up in 20 mL of benzene and added portionwise to the stirring RuCl₂ (PPh₃)₃ solution. The reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for approximately 12 h. The benzene was removed by rotary evaporation and the resulting dark green solid was washed with Et₂ O (7×10 mL). The Et₂ O washings were collected and quickly passed through a plug of silica gel. Due to its instability, hydroxy aldehyde 4 was typically carried on without further purification.

Removal of all traces of ruthenium related compound(s) (i.e., hydridochlorotris-(triphenylphosphine)ruthenium), visually identifiable as insoluble dark green solids, required proper purification by silica gel column chromatography (10% EtOAc/hexane) and afforded 66.9 mg (0.32 mmol) of hydroxy aldehyde 4 in 71% yield as a yellow oil (slowly decomposing, evidenced by TLC and ¹ H NMR) Rf=0.45, 50% EtOAc/hexane), ¹ H NMR (CDCl₃) δ 9.55 (d, J=3.2 Hz, 1H), 4.08 (m, 1H), 2.34 (m, 1H), 1.92-1.1 (m, 13H), 1.08 (d, J=6.8 Hz, 3H), 0.96 (s, 3H); ¹³ C NMR (CDCl₃) δ 205.06, 68.80, 51.88, 51.44, 49.06, 42.31, 40.10, 33.55, 26.05, 22.78, 17.32, 13.83, 13.23, FT-IR 4214, 3617, 3020, 2940, 2873, 2715, 1720, 1474, 1458, 1446, 1374 cm⁻¹.

Hydroxy aldehyde 4 obtained from 520 mg of diol 3 (as described above) and contaminated with trace amounts of unidentified ruthenium compound(s), was dissolved in 12 mL of DMF and cooled to 0° C. To this solution was added 0.21 mL (1.8 mmol) of 2,6-lutidine followed by 0.40 mL (1.7 mmol) of tert-butyldimethylsilyl trifluoromethanesulfonate (TBDMS-OTf=Z-OTf). The progress of the reaction was monitored closely by TLC. Further addition of 2,6-lutidine (0.21 mL) and TBDMS-OTf (0.40 mL) was made until the reaction was complete (ca. 2 h, 0° C).

The reaction mixture was quenched with 70 mL of water, extracted with Et₂ O (3×25 mL), the organic portion was dried over MgSO₄, filtered, concentrated by rotary evaporation and immediately purified by silica gel chromatography (100% hexane) to afford 462.1 mg of O-silylated aldehyde 5 as a light yellow oil in 57% yield from diol 3 (Rf=0.48, 15% EtOAc/hexane). ¹ H NMR (CDCl₃) δ 9.57 (d, J=3.2 Hz, 1H), 4.01 (m, 1H), 2.34 (m, 1H), 1.9-1.1 (m, 12H), 1.08 (d, J=6.8 Hz, 3H), 0.95 (s, 3H), 0.88 (s, 9H, t-BuSi), 0.004 and -0.012 (2s, 6H, Me₂ Si); ¹³ C NMR (CDCl₃) δ 205.34, 69.05, 52.34, 51.66, 49.16, 42.62, 40.40, 34.33, 26.19, 25.78, 23.31, (18.0--questionable), 17.55, 14.08, 13.33, - 4.82, -5.18, FT-IR 4201, 3679, 3014, 2919, 2848, 2705, 2385, 1712 cm⁻¹.

Spectroscopic data corresponds to that previously reported (Fernandez et al., J. Org. Chem., 57: 3173-3178, 1992, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference). Due to the instability of O-silylated aldehyde 5 (as evidenced by TLC and ¹ H NMR), storage at -20° C. did not exceed a 12 h period.

O-Silylated Ketone 6

O₂ was bubbled through a solution of KO-t-Bu (0.43 mL, 0.43 mmol) in dry t-BuOH (0.942 mL, freshly distilled from CaH₂) for 10-15 min. A solution of O-silylated aldehyde 5 (28.5 mg, 0.088 mmol) in 0.54 mL of t-BuOH was added and O₂ was bubbled through the solution for an additional 10 min. followed by N₂ for 15 min.

The solution was quenched with 20 mL of H₂ O, extracted with Et₂ O (3×15 mL), dried over MgSO₄, filtered, concentrated, and chromatographed on a silica gel column (100% hexane) to afford 22.1 mg of O-silylated ketone 6 in 80% yield as a white solid (R_(f) =0.8, 20% EtOAc/hexane); m.p. 33°-34° C. (Fernandez et al., J. Org. Chem., 57: 3173-3178, 1992, m.p. 34°-35° C.); ¹ H NMR (CDCl₃) δ 4.04 (m, 1H), 2.47 (t, J=8.7 Hz, 1H), 2.09 (s, 3H), 0.87 (s, 9H, t-BuSi), 0.85 (s, 3H), 0.01 and 0.005 (s, 6H, Me₂ Si); FT-IR 1700 cm⁻¹, with physical and spectroscopic properties corresponding to those reported (Fernandez et al., J. Org. Chem., 57: 3173-3178, 1992).

Alcohol (20R)-7

A flame dried 25 mL round bottomed flask was charged with 41.8 mg (0.13 mmol) of O-silylated ketone 6, dissolved in 10 mL of anhydrous MeOH, and cooled to 0° C. Solid sodium borohydride (24.6 mg, 0.65 mmol, 5 equiv.) was added portionwise to the solution until the disappearance of all starting material was observed by TLC.

The reaction mixture was quenched with water, extracted with Et₂ O (3×25 mL), dried over MgSO₄, filtered, concentrated, and purified by silica gel column chromatography (10% EtOAc/hexane) to afford 26.0 mg of the desired (20R)-7 alcohol epimer and 10.4 mg of the (20S)-7 alcohol epimer (2.5:1) both as light yellow oils in 86% total yield (Rf=0.8 (20R)-7, 0.7 (20S)-7, 50% EtOAc/hexane); (20R)-7 alcohol: ¹ H NMR (CDCl₃) δ 4.01 (m, 1H), 3.74 (m, 1H), 2.02-1.16 (m, 13H), 1.12 (d, J=6.4 Hz, 3H), 1.0 (bs, 3H), 0.88 (s, 9H), 0.01 and -0.007 (2s, 6H); ¹³ C NMR (CDCl₃) δ 70.19, 69.16, 59.15, 52.60, 41.95, 40.93, 34.42, 25.82, 24.75, 23.35, 23.25, (18.04--questionable), 17.54, 14.36, -4.78, -5.17; FT-IR 3475, 2925, 2975, 2852, 1763, 1487, 1375 cm⁻¹ ; (20S)-7 alcohol; ¹ H NMR (CDCl₃) δ 4.02 (m, 1H), 3.68 (m, 1H), 2.02-1.16 (m, 13H), 1.25 (s, 3H), 1.20 (d, J=6.0 Hz, 3H), 0.88 (s, 9H) 0.012 and 0.003 (2s, 6H).

Stereochemical assignments were made by comparing ¹ H NMR chemical shift and coupling constant data reported in the literature for similar compounds (see Murayama et al., Chem. Pharm. Bull., 34: 4410-4413, 1986, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference, for assignment of (20S)-7 alcohol; see Wilson et al., Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters, 3: 341-344, 1993, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference, for assignment of (20R)-7 alcohol).

Williamson Ether Coupling Reaction of Alcohol (20R)-7 to Side Chain Bromide Synthon 13

An oven-dried 35 mL round bottomed flask equipped with a magnetic stirring bar was charged with 611 mg of KH (35% suspension in mineral oil). The KH was washed with anhydrous THF (3×6 mL), dried in vacuo, reweighed (dry weight=205 mg, 5.1 mmol, 14.2 equiv.), suspended in 10 mL of anhydrous THF and maintained under an argon atmosphere. A solution of 111.4 mg (0.36 mmol) of alcohol (20R)-7 dissolved in 5 mL of anhydrous THF was added via syringe. After 15 min. upon addition of alcohol (20R)-7, the solution turned yellow indicating formation of the alkoxide anion; however, the mixture was stirred for 1 h to ensure formation was complete. A solution of side chain bromide synthon 13 (508 mg, 1.8 mmol, 5 equiv.) dissolved in 5 mL of anhydrous THF was added via syringe and the progress of the reaction was monitored closely by TLC.

Upon disappearance of alcohol (20R)-7 (1 h), the reaction was quenched with H₂ O, extracted with Et₂ O (3×25 mL), dried over MgSO₄, filtered and purified by silica gel column chromatography (0010% EtOAc/hexane) to afford 176 mg (0.34 mmol) of O-silyl protected ether 8 as a light brown oil in 96% yield from (20R)-7 (Rf=0.75, 10% EtOAc/hexane); ¹ H NMR (CDCl₃) δ 3.99 (m, 1H), 3.54 (m, 2h), 3.24 (dt, J=6.0, 15.6 Hz, 2H), 3.14-3.08 (m, 2H), 2.11 (dt, J=2.4, 12.8 Hz, 2H), 1.8-1.1 (m, 14H), 1.03 (q, J=5.6 Hz, 4H), 0.92 (bs, 3H), 0.87 (s, 9H), 0.79 (dt, J=2.0, 9.6 Hz, 6H), 0.07 (s, 9 H), -0.008 and -0.026 (2s, 6H); ¹³ C NMR (CDCl₃) δ 78.67, 77.72, 69.33, 68.92, 57.09, 52.63, 42.02, 40.53, 35.38, 34.63, 31.38, 31.30, 25.81, 24.97, 24.71, 23.24, 18.25, 18.03, 17.6, 14.44, 8.25, 8.12, 2.69, -4.77, -5.17, FT-IR 2954, 2931, 2884, 2860, 1461, 1372 cm⁻¹.

O-Silylated Ketone Ether 11

A flame dried 25 mL round bottomed flask equipped with a magnetic stirring bar was charged with 143 mg (0.28 mmol) of O-silylated ether 8, 7 mL THF, 20 mg of 4 angstrom powdered molecular sieves (oven-dried), and 510 mg (1.9 mmol, 7 equiv.) of tetrabutylammonium fluoride hydrate (TBAF). TBAF was added portionwise at room temperature and the progress of the reaction was monitored closely by TLC. After 4.5 h, two lower runnings spots A and B were observed (in addition to starting material) (Rf=0.7 (8), 0.4(A), 0.3(B), 10% EtOAc/hexane). The most polar spot (B) corresponded to desired product diol ether 9, whereas A was thought to correspond to the single deprotected tertiary alcohol compound. After stirring at room temperature for 8 h, the mixture was refluxed at 70° C. for 20 h and full conversion to B (9) was observed.

The reaction mixture was cooled to room temperature, concentrated by rotary evaporation, and purified by silica gel column chromatography (10% EtOAc/hexane) to afford 81.5 mg (0.25 mmol) of diol ether 9 contaminated with a small amount of impurities (as evidenced by TLC and ¹ H NMR) as a colorless oil in 89% yield (Rf=0.45, 20% EtOAc/hexane); ¹ H NMR (CDCl₃) δ 4.06 (m, 1H), 3.59 (2t (overlapping), J=6.4 Hz, 2H), 3.33-3.19 (m, 4H), 246-1.20 (m, 17H), 1.1 (d, J=6.0 Hz, 3H), 0.85 (t, J=7.5 Hz, 6H), 0.65 (s, 3H).

A flame dried 25 mL round bottomed flask was charged with 600 mg (2.8 mmol, 11 equiv.) of pyridinium chlorochromate (PCC) and 400 mg of NaAc (4.9 mmol, 20 equiv.). The flask was flushed with Ar and maintained under an Ar atmosphere. Approximately 40 mL of anhydrous CH₂ Cl₂ was added via syringe and the mixture was allowed to stir 5-10 min.

Diol ether 9 (81.5 mg, 0.25 mmol) was dissolved in 10 mL anhydrous CH₂ Cl₂ and added dropwise via cannula; upon its addition the reaction mixture turned a darker shade of orange (orange/brown). Progress of the reaction as followed by TLC showed the reaction was complete after 2 h stirring at room temperature.

The solution was filtered through a plug of silica gel, concentrated, and purified by silica gel chromatography (50% EtOAc/hexane) to afford 52.3 mg (0.16 mmol) of hydroxy ketone ether 10 (KH-1060) as an oil in 64% yield (Rf=0.5, 50% EtOAc/hexane); ¹ H NMR (CDCl₃) δ 3.58 and 3.56 (2t (overlapping), J=6.4 Hz, 2H), 3.33-3.19 (m, 4H), 2.46-1.2 (m, 13H), 1.47 (q, J=7.6 Hz, 4H), 1.1 (d, J=6.0 Hz, 3H), 0.85 (t, J=7.5 Hz, 6H), 0.65 (s, 3H), FT-IR 2968, 2938, 2878, 1706, 1458, 1382 cm⁻¹. Spectroscopic properties correspond to those reported (Wilson et al., Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters, 35: 3280-3287, 1993).

A flame dried 25 mL round bottomed flask was charged with 50.3 mg (0.15 mmol) of hydroxy ketone ether 10, dissolved in 7 mL of anhydrous CH₂ Cl₂ and maintained under an Ar atmosphere, 1-(trimethylsilyl) imidazole (TMS-imidazole, 0.32 mol, 2.2 mmol, 15 equiv. ) was added dropwise via syringe over 5-10 min.

The mixture was stirred at room temperature overnight, quenched with 10 mL H₂ O, extracted with EtOAc (3×25 mL), dried over MgSO₄, filtered, concentrated, and purified by silica gel column chromatography (20% EtOAc/hexane) to afford 57.8 mg (0.15 mmol) of O-silylated ketone ether 11 as a light brown oil in quantitative yield (Rf=0.25, 10% EtOAc/hexane); [α]²⁸ D-31° (c=2.8×10⁻³ g/ml, EtOAc); ¹ H NMR (CDCl₃) δ 3.57 (dt, J=6.4, 12.4 Hz, 2H), 3.29-3.10 (m, 4H), 2.5-1.2 (m, 17H), 1.08 (d, J=6.0 Hz, 3H), 0.81 (dt, J=3.2, 10.8 Hz, 6H), 0.65 (s, 3H), 0.082 (s, 9H); ¹³ C NMR (CDCl₃) δ 212.15, 78.59, 77.49, 68.91, 61.51, 56.84, 49.92, 41.19, 38.91, 35.31, 31.33, 25.07, 24.59, 24.15, 19.39, 18.24, 12.94, 8.27, 8.14, 2.69; FT-IR 2966, 2884, 1702, 1455, 1373, 1067 cm⁻¹.

The synthesis of O-silylated ketone ether 11 (compound (-) -11(KH-1060)) is outlined diagrammatically in Scheme IV below: ##STR15##

Side Chain Bromide Synthon 13

A flame dried 100 mL round bottomed flask was charged with 1.0 g (5.0 mmol) of ethyl 4-bromobutyrate dissolved in 20 mL of anhydrous Et₂ O. The solution was cooled down to -78° C. under an Ar atmosphere and 10 mL (20 mmol, 5 equiv.) of ethylmagnesium chloride was added. The reaction mixture was warmed to room temperature, stirred 4 h, quenched with 50 mL of H₂ O, extracted with Et₂ O (3×50 mL), dried over MgSO₄, filtered, concentrated, and purified by silica gel column chromatography (10-15% EtOAc/hexane) to afford 728.0 (3.0 mmol) of hydroxy bromide 12 in 60% yield. A flame-dried 100 mL round bottomed flask was charged with 728 mg (3.0 mmol) of hydroxy bromide 12 dissolved in 50 mL of anhydrous CH₂ Cl₂. To this solution was added 1.6 mL (10.9 mmol, 3.6 equiv. ) of 1-(trimethylsilyl) imidazole. The reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature overnight under an Ar atmosphere, quenched with 20 mL H₂ O, extracted with CH₂ Cl₂ (2×25 mL), dried over MgSO₄, filtered, concentrated, and purified by silica gel column chromatography (100% hexane) to afford 777.2 mg (2.8 mmol) of O-silylated bromide 13 in 92% yield as an oil ¹ H NMR (CDCl₃) δ 3.39 (t, J=6.8 Hz, 2H), 1.84 (m, 2H), 1.47 (m, 6H) 0.81 (t, J=7.4 Hz, 6H), 0.084 (s, 9H); ¹³ C NMR (CDCl₃) δ 78.39, 37.04, 34.77, 31.41, 27.37, 8.25, 2.68.

The synthesis of O-silylated bromide 13 is outlined diagrammatically in Scheme V below: ##STR16##

22-oxa-1-(hydroxymethyl)-26-(hydroxydiethyl) vitamin D3 compounds [(-)-16ya] and [(+)-16yb]

Racemic phosphine oxide 14 (60.4 mg, 0.1 mmol, 1.4 equiv.) was dissolved in 1 mL freshly distilled anhydrous THF and cooled to -78° C. under an Ar atmosphere. To this was added 0.062 ml (0.112 mmol, 1.1 equiv.) of PhLi (1.8M in Et₂ O) dropwise over 5 min. during which time a deep red-orange color developed and persisted. The mixture was allowed to stir an addition 7-8 min. at -78° C. at which time a precooled (-78° C.) solution of C-D ring (-)-11 (26.4 mg, 0.07 mmol, 1.0 equiv.) dissolved in 0.5 mL freshly distilled anhydrous THF was added dropwise via cannula. The flask containing C-D ring (-)-11 was rinsed with an additional 0.5 mL of THF and slowly added to the reaction mixture via cannula. The deep red-orange solution was stirred in the dark for 3.0 h during which time (periodically checked visually) it was observed turning progressively lighter in color until it reached a light yellow color. Upon observation of the light yellow color, the reaction mixture was immediately quenched at -78° C. with 0.3 mL of 2N sodium potassium tartrate followed by addition of dilute aqueous potassium carbonate. After warming to room temperature, the reaction was extracted with EtOAc (3×20 mL), the organic portion was dried over MgSO₄, filtered, concentrated, and purified by silica gel column chromatography (7% EtOAc/hexane) to afford 49.1 mg (0.063 mmol) of the crude coupled product in 90% yield from C-D ring (-)-11. This was immediately placed in a flame-dried 25 mL round bottomed flask and dissolved in 10 ml of freshly distilled anhydrous THF under argon. To this was added 70 mg (0.27 mmol, 4.5 equiv.) of solid TBAF and it was stirred at room temperature for approximately 12 h in the dark. The solvent was evaporated and the mixture was roughly purified by silica gel column chromatography (100% EtOAc) to afford 5.0 mg (0.01 mmol, 15% from precursor) of a mixture of two diastereomers [(-)-16ya] and [(+)-16yb] slightly contaminated with impurities (as evidenced by TLC and ¹ H NMR). The mixture of diastereomers was subject to HPLC separation (40% MeOH/Acetonitrile; reverse phase; C₁₈ column, semi-prep, flow rate 1 ml/min., retention times: [(-)-16ya] 21.62 min., [(+)-16yb] 22.83 min. ) to give pure diastereomers. Both diastereomers are sparingly soluble in organic solvents (MeOH, CHCl₃, EtOAc, Acetone) and readily "stick" to glass thus often strongly resisting removal with solvents (both organic and inorganic). [(-)-16ya] [α]²⁸.8 D-81° (c=0.9×10⁻³ g/ml, MeOH); ¹ H NMR (CDCl₃) δ 6.32 (d, J=11.2 Hz, 1H), 5.93 (d, J=11.2 Hz, 1H), 5.17 (d, J=2Hz, 1H) 5.01 (d, J=2.0 Hz, 1H), 4.0-3.88 (m, 1H), 3.6-3.5 (m, 2H), 3.30-3.18 (m, 2H), 2.85-2.77 (m, 1H), 2.67-2.56 (m, 1H), 2.29-2.22 (m, 1H), 2.18-2.12 (m, III), 1.08 (d, J=6.0 Hz, 3H), 0.84 (dt, J=2.0, 9.6 Hz, 6H), 0.55 (s, 3H); MS m/e M⁺ 474; UV (MeOH) λ_(max) 265 nm. [(+)-16yb] [α]³².9 D+12.5° (c=0.4×10-3 g/ml, MeOH); ¹ H NMR (CDCl₃) δ 6.32 (d, J=11.2 Hz, 1H), 5.92 (d, J=11.6 Hz, 1H), 5.15 (dd, J=2.1, 1.0 Hz, 1H), 4.99 (d, J=2.0 Hz, 1H), 4.03-3.97 (m, 1H), 3.63-3.52 (m, 2H), 3.30-3.17 (m, 2H), 2.83-2.78 (m, 1H), 2.65-2.56 (m, 1H), 2.30-2.22 (m, 1H), 2.15 (m, 1H), 1.08 (d, J=6.0 Hz, 3H), 0.84 (dt, J=2.0, 9.6 Hz, 6H), 0.52 (s, 3H); MS m/e M⁺ 474; UV(MeOH) λ_(max) 265 nm.

Preparation for coupling: Two 10 mL round bottomed flasks were equipped with magnetic stir bars, oven dried for 12 h, cooled in a desiccator, rinsed with benzene and evaporated on a rotary evaporator (3×), and held under high vacuum for 5-6 h. A 10 mL round bottomed flask was charged with 60.4 mg (0.1 mmol) of racemic phosphine oxide 14 (synthesized as previously reported⁵) which was azeotropically dried with benzene (3×), sealed with a rubber septum, kept under high vacuum for 5-6 h, re-azeotroped with benzene added via syringe through the septum, and kept under high vacuum (0.05 mm Hg) overnight (approximately 12 h). A 10 mL round bottomed flask was charged with 26.4 mg (0.07 mmol) of C-D ring (-)11 which was dried by the procedure described for racemic phosphine oxide 14.

The synthesis of 22-oxa-1-(hydroxymethyl)-26-(hydroxydiethyl)vitamin D3 [(-)-16ya] (compound YA) and [(+)-16yb] (compound YB) are outlined diagrammatically in Scheme VI below: ##STR17##

Growth Inhibition Test

The growth inhibition test was carried out as follows:

Growth curves for PE cells treated with calcitriol and its 1-hydroxymethyl homologues were generated by assay for the reduction of 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) according to the method described by Carmichael et al., Cancer Res., 47:936-942 (1987), the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. A mitochondrial dehydrogenase reduces MTT to a blue formazan product with an absorbance maximum of 505 nm in DMSO; the number of viable cells can thus be determined spectrophotometrically.

PE cells were seeded at a density of 5,000 cells/well in 50 μl medium into 96-well microtiter plates. Twelve hours later, the medium was removed, and cells were treated with 100 μl fresh medium into which the appropriate amount of vitamin D₃ or derivative dissolved in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) had been added, with the concentration of DMSO held constant at 0.1%. The plates were fed once at 48 hours, with the readdition of the vitamin D₃ analogues at this time. At 24 hour intervals following the initial treatment of the cells with compounds, 0.1 mg (50 μg of a 2 mg/ml solution) of MTT was added to the plates. After 4 hours, the MTT was removed and DMSO added to dissolve the blue formazan dye. Using a microtiter plate reader, the A₅₀₅ was then determined and cell number calculated from blank-subtracted absorbance values. Results from the MTT assay for the inhibition of cell growth were independently confirmed by treating 100 cm² dishes of cells in an analogous manner for 96 hours, whereupon the cells were harvested by trypsinization and counted. Further, the viability of the cells treated with vitamin D₃ or derivatives was determined to be identical to control cells at 96 hours by try pan blue exclusion.

Inhibition of TPA-induced ODC Activity

100 cm² dishes of PE cells were treated with vitamin D₃ or analogues dissolved in DMSO by direct addition into the culture medium. Fifteen minutes later, the plates were treated with 100 ng/ml TPA dissolved in ethanol. For both additions, the solvent concentration was held constant at 0.1%, and control values represent the results from plates treated with these solvents. Three plates were used for each experimental group.

Following incubation for 4 hours after addition of TPA, the medium was removed and the dishes washed with ice cold phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). The excess PBS was then removed and the dishes rinsed with an ice cold solution of pyridoxal phosphate in PBS (50 μg/ml). The excess liquid was removed, and the dishes were frozen at -80° C. The dishes were scraped into Eppendorf tubes while still partially frozen, and the cells further lysed by freeze-thawing for generation of the 12,000× g cytosol.

Cytosolic ODC activity was determined in triplicate by measuring the release of ¹⁴ CO₂ from L-[¹⁴ C] ornithine using an Eppendorf microvessel assay as previously described (Cancer Res., 43:2555-2559 (1983), the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference).

Results

Results of the foregoing tests are illustrated by the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 graphically shows the growth inhibition of keratinocyte cell line PE by vitamin D₃ and 1-hydroxymethyl homologues at 3 μM. The values shown represent the mean from 12 wells ±S.D. Arrows indicate administration of fresh medium into which the compounds dissolved in DMSO had been added. Control cells were treated with DMSO alone (0.1% in culture medium). The-treated values are significantly different from the solvent control at 72 and 96 hours (p<0.001, Student's t-test).

FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate the inhibition of TPA-induced ornithine decarboxylase activity by pretreatment with vitamin D₃ and 1-hydroxymethyl homologues. FIG. 2A shows inhibition of TPA stimulated response by pretreatment of cells for 15 minutes with 1 μM of the compounds. Values represent the mean ±S.D. for 3 measurements. Pretreatment with calcitriol or its synthetic derivatives resulted in a statistically significant reduction in TPA-induced ODC activity (p<0.001, Student's t-test). FIG. 2B shows a dose-response curve for the inhibition of TPA-induced ODC activity with the 1-hydroxymethyl vitamin D₃ diastereomers (-)-2 and (+)-3.

As shown, calcitriol and its 1-hydroxymethyl derivatives were equipotent at inhibiting growth of PE cells. The anti-proliferative effects of the three compounds as demonstrated by reduction in cell number over time as compared to control plates is shown in FIG. 1. While the control cells continued in the exponential phase of cell growth from 24 hours onward, this rapid rate of cell proliferation was significantly blunted by treatment with calcitriol or its 1-hydroxymethyl derivatives. Further, the treated cell populations had reached a plateau by 72 hours, days before the control cells would become confluent and senescent. Thus, all three vitamin D₃ compounds were active in inhibiting cell growth and division. The activity of these compounds was due to cytostatic rather than cytotoxic effects, as cell viability was unchanged in the treatment groups as determined by dye exclusion assay.

Calcitriol and the 1-hydroxymethyl diastereomers also significantly inhibited the effects of TPA (12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate) on the activity of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC). ODC catalyzes the initial and rate-limiting step in the polyamine biosynthetic pathway; while the function of polyamines is not fully understood, they are essential for growth, differentiation and replication. This enzyme can be induced rapidly and dramatically by many growth stimuli, including the tumor promoter TPA (Annu. Rev. Biochem., 53:749-790 (1984); the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference).

The ability of TPA to induce ODC is associated with its proliferative and tumor promoting properties (Cancer Res., 35:2426-2433 (1975); Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun., 105:969-976 (1982) and Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 70:6028-6032 (1982); the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference).

A variety of agents have been shown to inhibit TPA effects on ODC induction as well as TPA stimulated tumor promotion, including calcitriol (Cancer Res., 45:5426-5430 (1985); Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun., 116:605-611 (1983); the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference), anti-inflammatory steroids and vitamin A analogues (Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun., 91:1488-1496 (1979); the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference), as well as free radical scavenging compounds (Adv. Free Radical Biol. and Med., 2:347-387 (1986); the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference).

Similarly, FIG. 2A shows the effects of vitamin D₃ and its 1-hydroxymethyl derivatives on the TPA-stimulated ODC activity in vitro. The potency of the three compounds as inhibitors of the effects of TPA on this enzyme were not significantly different from each other. FIG. 2B illustrates the similar dose-response characteristics of the 1-hydroxymethyl vitamin D₃ diastereomers.

Taken together, these results indicate that replacing the 1α-hydroxyl group in calcitriol does not diminish biological activities characteristic of vitamin D₃. Further, the results demonstrate that changing the stereochemistry of a 1-substituent does not necessarily change anti-proliferative activity.

The foregoing shows unexpectedly high anti-proliferative and cell growth inhibitory activities for the 1-hydroxyalkyl analogues of the invention, the expectation from the prior art being that replacement of the 1α-hydroxyl group of calcitriol would be damaging to such activities. It is also surprising that changing the stereochemistry of the 1-hydroxyalkyl (1α to 1β, compound 2 to compound 3) did not change the anti-proliferative or cell growth inhibitory activity. Both (-)-2 and (+)-3 showed less than, or equal to, 2% of calcitriol's binding to the 1,25(OH)₂ -vitamin D₃ receptor (VDR).

The VDR binding assay was performed according to the procedure of Reinhardt, T. A., Horst, R. L., Orf, J. W., Hollis, B. W., J. Clin. Endocrin. Metab., 58:91-98 (1984), the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated within by reference.

Results with Compound YB

Compound YB has been studied in the above-described assays. As seen in Table 2, compound YB has a rating of 1 for inhibition of proliferation and a rating of approximately 10⁻³ for VDR binding.

                  TABLE 2                                                          ______________________________________                                         Inhibition of Induction of VDR                                                 Proliferation Differentiation                                                                             Binding                                             ______________________________________                                         1             Expected to be 1                                                                            ˜10.sup.-3                                    ______________________________________                                    

Thus, there is an extremely wide spread between the ratings for inhibition of proliferation and VDR binding. The rating for induction of differentiation for compound YB has not yet been measured, but it would be expected to be about 1.

Further support for the extremely low VDR binding is seen in Table 3.

                  TABLE 3                                                          ______________________________________                                         Displacement of [.sup.3 H]-1,25(OH).sub.2 D.sub.3 from VDR                     Compound      Amount Bound                                                     ______________________________________                                         1,25(OH).sub.2 D.sub.3                                                                       22            pg                                                 GHP-III-84    4.4           μg                                              MCW-II-5ya    2.2           μg                                              MCW-II-5yb    29.5          ng                                                 ______________________________________                                    

Compound YB is designated MCW-II-5yb in Table 3. These results show the amounts of each compound that results in 50% displacement of [³ H]-1,25(OH)₂ D₃ from the calf thymus VDR. Compound YB bound about 1,000 times less strongly than 1,25(OH)₂ D₃.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are separate examples showing the effects of various concentrations of the compound YB and calcitriol on cell proliferation. The calcium channel opening assay was performed according to the procedure of Caffrey, J. M., Farach-Carson, M. C., J. Biol. Chem., 264:20265-20274 (1989), the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated within by reference. Results from these separate examples confirm that compound YB is a potent anti-proliferative analogue of vitamin D₃ with anti-proliferative activity comparable to that of calcitriol.

Additional confirmation of the anti-proliferative activity of compound YB is shown in FIG. 5. Treatment of RWLeu-4 human CML cell line with compound YB resulted in an anti-proliferative effect comparable to that of calcitriol, even at 50 nM.

                                      TABLE 4                                      __________________________________________________________________________     Calcium Channel Openers                                                                Average peak shift compared to                                                 control (mV)                  Number of                                                                Bay K experiments                                      0.05 nM                                                                              0.5 nM                                                                               5 nM  50 nM 1 μM                                                                              (n = X)                                  __________________________________________________________________________     1,25-(OH)2-D3                                                                          5.8 ± 1.5                                                                         11.9 ± 2.0                                                                        17.3 ± 1.5                                                                        19.4 ± 1.4                                                                        28.3 ± 5.6                                                                        9                                        MCW-II5-Y-A                                                                            1.0 ± 0.1                                                                         10.8 ± 1.5                                                                        16.1 ± 4.1                                                                        18.6 ± 3.3                                                                        29.0 ± 1.4                                                                        5                                        MCW-II5-Y-B                                                                            3.6 ± 2,2                                                                         13.2 ± 2.8                                                                        16.6 ± 2.8                                                                        18.4 ± 2.1                                                                        26.3 ± 4.5                                                                        6                                        24-2287 11.3 ± 1.5                                                                        14.6 ± 3.6                                                                        18.8 ± 0.7                                                                        19.8 ± 0.7                                                                        27.9 ± 5.3                                                                        6                                        __________________________________________________________________________

Compound YB is designated as MCW-II5-Y-B and calcitriol as 1,25-(OH)2-D3 in Table 4. These results show that compound YB is similar to calcitriol in its ability to open calcium channels in an instantaneous non-genomic fashion.

In summary, compound YB is a vitamin D₃ analogue having a hydroxyalkyl substituent in the 1-position and a modified D-ring side chain. This novel compound exhibits a wide spread between the ratings for proliferation inhibition and VDR binding.

It will be appreciated that various modifications may be made in the foregoing without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention-as defined in the following claims wherein: 

What is claimed is:
 1. A vitamin D₃ analogue of the formula: ##STR18## wherein R is -R¹ OH, where R¹ is straight or branched alkyl of 1 to 6 carbons.
 2. A vitamin D₃ analogue of the formula: ##STR19##
 3. A method of inhibiting cell proliferation by administering a vitamin D₃ analogue of the formula: ##STR20## wherein R is -R¹ OH, where R¹ is straight or branched alkyl of 1 to 6 carbons.
 4. The method of claim 3 wherein said vitamin D₃ analogue has the formula: ##STR21## 